Artest ( A- ) -- big start to this one, on BOTH ends of the court. Had 13 in the first quarter, and on perfect shooting to boot. Also continued the big boarding ways, once again topping his career average before half and finishing with 10. Quieted down thereafter, but still hit a big shot in the mid 4th to break up an ugly scrappy comeback attempt by the Raptors (actually it was more us letting them back in than anything they were doing). Overall more of an offensive effort with nobody of note to shut down on the Raptors, but set the tone early,was a leader tonight, hit the glass, and largely stayed in control.
Thomas ( C ) -- got lit up by Bosh in the early going and went on to a very quiet outing. Still a better effort than his invisible man bit on the roadtrip, with very modest numbers, but several solid plays along the way. Strict limit as to how big a grade you can get for a 2pt 6reb performance as a starting PF, but despite the invisible numbers, there was never really a point where you felt like he jsut had to be subbed out of the game (part of that may have been us being in control fo the game almost from start to finish). Did not help, but did not kill us.
Reef ( B- ) -- sloppy first half, but a few highlights including a decent number of boards and going up to attempt a monster jam on the break (he was fouled to stop it, but still as aggressive as you are likely to see latter day Reef). Ugly effort continued through the second half, but mixed in around the turnovers and misses were enough conversions and fouls drawn to secure a respectable statistical effort -- 18pts 7rebs...and 6 TOs -- with moments of scrap and hustle around the edges.
Martin ( A- ) -- struggled a bit in the early going, getting repeatedly challenged around the rim. But as the Raptors subbed in their cast of thousands Kevin began to squirt lose for shots here and there, threw in one nifty Kobe-style stepback move at the top of the key, and finshed the half as the third of three offensive amigos (behind Ron and Mike). In the second half it was more of the same, popping free whenever the Raptors lost focus (which is to say about every other play -- that team still sucks defensively) and in particular knocking down shot after shot from the left baseline. While Mike and Ron both cooled after half, Kevin just kept on doing his thing, 13 in half 1, 13 more in half 2. Game lacked a certain spark, or maybe worthy opponent. But a good sign when you score 26 and its not a blow you away night.
Bibby ( B+ ) -- carried us in the early going along with Ron, with the shot looking sweet. But got quiet in the second half while TJ Ford also began to come alive as the game went along (although remained brainless and out of control). Had 21, shot well overall, but never really dominated (although was a major part of the big first quarter) and continued to have random turnover problems.
Salmons ( B ) -- nothing offensively again until a smattering of points in semi garbagetime, but combined with Ron to really help us on the glass in the first half and played a smart solid floor game throughout. Pondered a B+, but he was more solid than spectacular, in particular while the game was still on, and if Mike was a B+ as one of the guys who mattered, John was a B as a guy who definitely helped around the edges but never controlled action.
Price ( C-) -- short first half stint -- we extended the lead with him out there, but individually he did little. Was back on the court at the end of the thrid/early 4th, and watched the lead begin to evaporate on his watch. Forced in one shot in the late going.
Williamson ( D ) -- definitely our first "big" off the bench now, coming in at center once again in Eric Adelman's short rotation. Did little in either of his stints, however, and looked like he had caught Mo Taylor disease one game after a nice throwback performance against Detroit.
Cisco ( B- ) -- came in the game and immediately hit a three, and outside of one forced three, gave us a solid first half stint in more of a normal rotation stint. In the second half came back with an ill fated bench group that gave the Raptors life in the early 4th, and was doing his somewhat out of control bit again.
Douby ( INC ) -- got a strange insertion for the final 15 seconds of the third quarter, and then returned for the last minute of garbagetime.
Muss ( B+ ) -- So, to copy something I posted in the thread: We played the Raptors. On the season the Raptors allow opponents to shoot .489, score 102.4, and get outrebounded by 5.4 a game. So we come out on out home floor and shoot .487, score 107, and outrebound them by 9. Good performance, but pretty much par for the course against that team. They are young, soft, and play no defense. Controlled the game from damn near the outset, and never did meet any real resistance defensively. Even when we slowed down offensively, it was largely because we ourselves started to get selfish, started to turn it over, and squished our own offense more than anything the Raptors did. The sort of game you need to get on your home floor, and we got it for our first real winning streak of the season. Muss himself didn't have much work to do this time out, and the few notes he does have are kind of shrugs: first, Corliss is now our backup center. Literally. Not only is he the first big off the bench now, but he is routinely playing alongside KT, and often alongside Ron. This is smallball beyond anything that Rick ever dreamt of. On the other hand, given what Mo has shown, or rather not shown, what do we have to lose? Ugly though, and tonight Corliss did basically nothing. On a happier note, Cisco got some semi-rotation minutes this time out, perhaps helped by our healthy lead, and once again helping himself by coming in and immediately making a positive play (hit a three) to stave off the quick hook. And along the way, no real huge complaints or significant problems against this team. Our three best players tonight all played heavy minutes, but in the reasonable 37-38min range of heavy rather than 40+. We kind of/sort of went a bit into the bench, although nobody other than Salmons had more than 10-12min. And it was just a fairly relaxed + easy effort for everyone out to and including the coaches. We were better, established it early, and were never really threatened therafter. Solid win-padding victory + with our best game long offensive effort (of course against just about the worst defensive team in the league) of the young season.
Thomas ( C ) -- got lit up by Bosh in the early going and went on to a very quiet outing. Still a better effort than his invisible man bit on the roadtrip, with very modest numbers, but several solid plays along the way. Strict limit as to how big a grade you can get for a 2pt 6reb performance as a starting PF, but despite the invisible numbers, there was never really a point where you felt like he jsut had to be subbed out of the game (part of that may have been us being in control fo the game almost from start to finish). Did not help, but did not kill us.
Reef ( B- ) -- sloppy first half, but a few highlights including a decent number of boards and going up to attempt a monster jam on the break (he was fouled to stop it, but still as aggressive as you are likely to see latter day Reef). Ugly effort continued through the second half, but mixed in around the turnovers and misses were enough conversions and fouls drawn to secure a respectable statistical effort -- 18pts 7rebs...and 6 TOs -- with moments of scrap and hustle around the edges.
Martin ( A- ) -- struggled a bit in the early going, getting repeatedly challenged around the rim. But as the Raptors subbed in their cast of thousands Kevin began to squirt lose for shots here and there, threw in one nifty Kobe-style stepback move at the top of the key, and finshed the half as the third of three offensive amigos (behind Ron and Mike). In the second half it was more of the same, popping free whenever the Raptors lost focus (which is to say about every other play -- that team still sucks defensively) and in particular knocking down shot after shot from the left baseline. While Mike and Ron both cooled after half, Kevin just kept on doing his thing, 13 in half 1, 13 more in half 2. Game lacked a certain spark, or maybe worthy opponent. But a good sign when you score 26 and its not a blow you away night.
Bibby ( B+ ) -- carried us in the early going along with Ron, with the shot looking sweet. But got quiet in the second half while TJ Ford also began to come alive as the game went along (although remained brainless and out of control). Had 21, shot well overall, but never really dominated (although was a major part of the big first quarter) and continued to have random turnover problems.
Salmons ( B ) -- nothing offensively again until a smattering of points in semi garbagetime, but combined with Ron to really help us on the glass in the first half and played a smart solid floor game throughout. Pondered a B+, but he was more solid than spectacular, in particular while the game was still on, and if Mike was a B+ as one of the guys who mattered, John was a B as a guy who definitely helped around the edges but never controlled action.
Price ( C-) -- short first half stint -- we extended the lead with him out there, but individually he did little. Was back on the court at the end of the thrid/early 4th, and watched the lead begin to evaporate on his watch. Forced in one shot in the late going.
Williamson ( D ) -- definitely our first "big" off the bench now, coming in at center once again in Eric Adelman's short rotation. Did little in either of his stints, however, and looked like he had caught Mo Taylor disease one game after a nice throwback performance against Detroit.
Cisco ( B- ) -- came in the game and immediately hit a three, and outside of one forced three, gave us a solid first half stint in more of a normal rotation stint. In the second half came back with an ill fated bench group that gave the Raptors life in the early 4th, and was doing his somewhat out of control bit again.
Douby ( INC ) -- got a strange insertion for the final 15 seconds of the third quarter, and then returned for the last minute of garbagetime.
Muss ( B+ ) -- So, to copy something I posted in the thread: We played the Raptors. On the season the Raptors allow opponents to shoot .489, score 102.4, and get outrebounded by 5.4 a game. So we come out on out home floor and shoot .487, score 107, and outrebound them by 9. Good performance, but pretty much par for the course against that team. They are young, soft, and play no defense. Controlled the game from damn near the outset, and never did meet any real resistance defensively. Even when we slowed down offensively, it was largely because we ourselves started to get selfish, started to turn it over, and squished our own offense more than anything the Raptors did. The sort of game you need to get on your home floor, and we got it for our first real winning streak of the season. Muss himself didn't have much work to do this time out, and the few notes he does have are kind of shrugs: first, Corliss is now our backup center. Literally. Not only is he the first big off the bench now, but he is routinely playing alongside KT, and often alongside Ron. This is smallball beyond anything that Rick ever dreamt of. On the other hand, given what Mo has shown, or rather not shown, what do we have to lose? Ugly though, and tonight Corliss did basically nothing. On a happier note, Cisco got some semi-rotation minutes this time out, perhaps helped by our healthy lead, and once again helping himself by coming in and immediately making a positive play (hit a three) to stave off the quick hook. And along the way, no real huge complaints or significant problems against this team. Our three best players tonight all played heavy minutes, but in the reasonable 37-38min range of heavy rather than 40+. We kind of/sort of went a bit into the bench, although nobody other than Salmons had more than 10-12min. And it was just a fairly relaxed + easy effort for everyone out to and including the coaches. We were better, established it early, and were never really threatened therafter. Solid win-padding victory + with our best game long offensive effort (of course against just about the worst defensive team in the league) of the young season.
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